St. Aquinas

In the American economic system, there are many taxes utilized in order for the country to have money to spend for a federal budget for every year. Examples of such taxes would be the income tax and sales tax used by the federal government. In addition to those taxes, the federal government also taxes both the profit of a company that is made and the remaining profit that is paid toward its shareholders ― dividends ― is also taxed in order for the government to have money to spend on its programs. As a result of this, Saint Thomas Aquinas would disapprove of the taxation framework of the United States. When speaking about taxation as a topic, St. Aquinas is completely opposed to the idea in any form. In the reading, he states, “To take usury for money lent is unjust in itself, because this is to sell what does not exist,” which essentially states that taxing commodities and money is unvirtuous in

Firstly, Aquinas brings up the point that there are two types ways people trade; one virtuously and the other being unvirtuous. If a person were to gain trade in “whereby one commodity is exchanged for another, or money taken in exchange for a commodity, in order to satisfy the needs of life,” then it would be natural. This would apply to bargaining and trades among the people in society. However, the concept of investing in stocks of companies is considered the other type of trade. According to the Philosopher, the other type of profit is based on “money for money, or any commodity for money” is deserving of blame since it is for profit and not for a need. Additionally, Aquinas goes on to say that gaining a profit based on the efforts a person contributes is a good idea, but would dividends be considered hard work? This question would lead to Aquinas to say no, which would further represent how the American economic system alone is completely against his